“I know he’s probably trying to take my job, so I better get my act together because I hear he’s a pretty good player,” Tulo said. “I saw his interview, and I know they mentioned my name. I think he said I was going to give him some tips, but I will probably give him no tips.

Shortstop Brendan Rodgers from Lake Mary High School in Longwood, Fla., points to his name on the board after being picked by the Rockies in the 2015 MLB draft. (Bill Kostroun, The Associated Press)

The Rockies had four picks on the first day of MLB’s draft Monday. And they used all of them on high school players. Colorado only did that once before, in 1998, when they drafted Matt Roney, Choo Freeman, Jeff Winchester and Jermaine Van Buren.

They’ll have to hope it works out better this time.

And judging by upside, it could. The Rockies got perhaps the biggest ceiling of potential in the draft with prep shortstop Brendan Rodgers, a power-hitting, power-throwing shortstop from Lake Mary High in Florida. He was drafted third, behind two more proven college shortstops.

What’s up: Holliday, a former Rockies star who played a leading role in Rocktober nearly eight years ago, discovered baseball paradise on the banks of the Mississippi River. Since 2009, he has been to the playoffs five times with the Cardinals. He will return to Coors Field on Monday when the Cardinals make their only trip of the season to Denver for a three-game series.

In this two image combination, Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Pat Venditte (29) delivers with his left and right hand to separate Boston Red Sox batters during the seventh inning at Fenway Park in Boston, Friday, June 5, 2015. (Charles Krupa, The Associated Press)

It was a nice outing for the 29-year-old, who allowed one hit and had a strikeout in two shutout innings.

It also marked the debut of “The Venditte Rule,” which was established by Major League Baseball in 2008 after he was drafted by the New York Yankees in 2008.

From MLB.com:

The pitcher must visually indicate to the umpire, batter and runner(s) which way he will begin pitching to the batter. Engaging the rubber with the glove on a particular hand is considered a definitive commitment to which arm he will throw with. The batter will then choose which side of the plate he will bat from.

He is the first ambidextrous pitcher in the majors since Greg Harris recorded outs with both arms in 1995. He wears a six-fingered glove that allows him to switch back and forth.

In ESPN’s E:60 feature on Venditte, his Latin teammates dubbed him “Pulpo,” which is Spanish for octopus. In 2009, he became an Internet sensation when a video of Venditte taking on a switch hitter went viral. The two kept changing stances.

Rockies manager Walt Weiss says his game plan all along was to use Rafael Betancourt as his closer in the second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader vs. the Dodgers.(Denver Post file photo)

It provided buzz on sports-talk radio Wednesday. It was a hot topic on Twitter and in cryptic emails to a certain Rockies beat writer. That would be me.

But manager Walt Weiss was emphatic that he would not have done anything differently.

The debate centered on why Weiss used 40-year-old right-handed reliever Rafael Betancourt in the ninth inning Tuesday night to try and close out the Los Angeles Dodgers.

‘Raffy’ was the obvious choice. He’s got many, many big-league saves. He has thrown the ball well for us this year. … For me, it was a no-brainer.”
— Rockies manager Walt Weiss

The decision backfired when Betancourt gave up three consecutive singles, got two outs and then threw a 1-2, 91 mph fastball over the heart of the plate that Alex Guerrero hit for the first grand slam of his big-league career. The ball sailed just out of the reach of center fielder Charlie Blackmon.

The slam won the game, 9-8, for the Dodgers, spoiling Colorado’s chance for a doubleheader sweep.

Wednesday, Weiss stood by his decision.

When I asked Weiss if he considered using any other reliever, he answered: “I considered everybody that was out there, (but) ‘Raffy’ was the obvious choice. He’s got many, many big-league saves. He has thrown the ball well for us this year. He had the one hiccup the other day in Philly, when he was sick. For me, it was a no-brainer.”

The Rockies’ Rafael Betancourt is removed from the game after giving up a grand slam home run to Alex Guerrero in the ninth inning during Game 2 of a double header at Coors Field on June 2, 2015 in Denver. (Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)

Here’s an anatomy of a game-winning (or game-losing) grand slam home run:

Leading the Dodgers 8-5 going into the ninth inning Tuesday night, Rockies manager Walt Weiss picks 40-year-old right handed reliever Rafael Betancourt to close out the game. Betancourt had appeared in the first-game of Tuesday’s doubleheader, but had thrown only three pitches.

Alberto Callaspo singles up the middle off Betancourt, followed by singles by Jimmy Rollins and Chris Heisey to load the bases with no outs.

Betancourt strikes out Justin Turner for the first out.

Joc Pederson pops out to Brandon Barnes in shallow left field for the second out.

Rockies pitcher Jordan Lyles holds his face as he winces while home plate umpire Ted Barrett and third baseman Nolan Arenado look after him against the Philadelphia Phillies during the second inning of a game at Citizens Bank Park on May 31, 2015 in Philadelphia. (Rich Schultz, Getty Images)

“I don’t feel like I’m snake bit or anything like that, just unfortunate.”

Those were the words of Colorado Rockies right-hander Jordan Lyles on Monday when word came down that he will go on the 15-day disabled list with what the team is calling “a badly sprained left big toe.”

Lyles will see a foot specialist on Tuesday to see if his toe injury will heal on its own, or if surgery is needed to repair a torn toe ligament.

“If I have to have surgery, I don’t know how long I will be out,” said Lyles, who is 2-5 with a 5.14 ERA in 10 starts.

Taking Lyles’ place on the Rockies’ 25-man roster is right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle, who was called up from Triple-A Albuquerque. Kahnle was 1-2 with a 3.68 ERA in 17 appearances at Triple-A.

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez tosses the ball to relief pitcher J.P. Howell to get Atlanta Braves’ Eric Stults at first during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 26, 2015, in Los Angeles. ()

Spotlight on … Adrian Gonzalez, first baseman, Dodgers

What’s up: Gonzalez, much like former Rockies first baseman Todd Helton, is a player who seems like he has been around forever; wrecking pitchers and finding ways to get on base. Last week, Gonzalez hit a two-run homer against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium, giving him 1,000 career RBIs. He entered Saturday hitting .339, with 10 home runs and a 1.033 OPS.

Kyle Freeland, the Rockies’ first-round draft pick last year and a former Thomas Jefferson High School standout, remains in Scottsdale, Ariz., and hasn’t pitched in a game this season.

Freeland, a left-hander drafted with the No. 8 pick out of the University of Evansville, is rehabbing from shoulder fatigue and from minor surgery to have bone chips removed from his arm, Rockies senior director of player development Zach Wilson said.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado, streaking through the second half of May at the plate, is the No. 5 vote-getter in the first round of National League All-Star team voting, released Wednesday by Major League Baseball.

Arenado’s 309,823 votes trailed leading third baseman Matt Carpenter of the Cardinals with 1,113,060 votes. The Cubs’ Kris Bryant is second, followed by the Reds’ Todd Frazier and the Mets’ David Wright.

Rockies right-hander Tyler Chatwood is battling back from his second Tommy John elbow surgery.(Getty Images file)

Tyler Chatwood has tunnel vision.

He’s sharply focused on getting back on the mound for the Rockies this season, and now there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

The 25-year-old right-hander, who underwent Tommy John surgery for the second time last July, threw a 40-pitch bullpen on Sunday. He threw mostly fastballs and changeups, with a few curveballs at the end of the session.

“I think I’m ahead of where they expected me to be, throwing-wise, so that’s always good,” Chatwood said. “I really don’t want to set a schedule, but the plan is to come back this season.”

Chatwood’s first Tommy John surgery came when he was 16 and playing for Redlands East Valley High School in Southern California.

“I feel like that surgery went smoothly, and this has gone ever better,” he said. “I feel better and I’m more confident. I’m doing rehab every day, so that’s a lot different than high school.”

Chatwood has been traveling with the team because it helps him stay connected.

“The mental part is sometimes the toughest part, so it’s good to be around the guys,” he said.

Manager Walt Weiss said Chatwood is ahead of schedule, “but still a ways out.”

“I think he’s been ahead of schedule all along,” Weiss said. “But with his history and this being his second (surgery), we are going to take our time and make sure he’s ready to go out and compete.”

Asked if he thinks Chatwood can return to the big leagues this season, Weiss deferred, saying: “That’s such a ways out, I don’t want to put expectations on Tyler right now. He’s coming back from a tough injury and it’s been a pretty tough road for him. But he’s doing very well.”

In 70 big-league games (61) starts, Chatwood is 20-22 with a 4.34 ERA.

Rockies right-handed reliever Brooks Brown came off the 15-day disabled list Saturday in time for a doubleheader with the Giants. ( Justin Edmonds, Getty Images)

The Rockies did some bullpen shuffling before Saturday’s doubleheader against the Giants at Coors Field.

Hard-throwing right-hander Brooks Brown returned from the 15-day disabled list, saying his shoulder feels strong again. To make room on the 25-man roster, the Rockies placed lefty reliever Ken Roberts on the DL with left elbow inflammation. The club doesn’t think it’s a serious injury, but they are watching it carefully.

The Rockies and Giants can both expand their rosters to 26 players for the second game of the doubleheader, and in the Rockies’ case, the 26th man will be starting pitcher David Hale, who will make his Rockies debut.

A lone fan stands in the left field grandstand to watch the Rockies commit a final out against the Giants after a rain delay in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday. (David Zalubowski, The Associated Press)

The Rockies and Giants returned to Coors Field late Friday night to finish a long-delayed ninth inning. They ran out to a rain-soaked outfield with a sulfur smell in the air and smoke around the stadium lights.

It all ended five hours and 27 minutes after it started.

In one of the strangest games at the house of weird, Coors Field, the Rockies and Giants finally finished the ninth inning after rain-delay, in-game fireworks; a for-naught singles rally in the last half inning; a towering third-deck homer; a pretty good start from Rockies veteran Kyle Kendrick; and a very good start from Giants lefty Ryan Vogelsong.

“That was very strange, to watch fireworks before the game was over,” Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu said. “But I guess you have to make the fans happy so they can leave.”

Troy Tulowitzki is tagged out at home by Phillies catcher Cameron Rupp in the third inning Thursday at Coors Field. (Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)

Base path acumen is a difficult piece of baseball to quantify, at least in total. Fangraphs gives it a shot with their Base Running (BsR) stat. They take stolen bases, caught-stealings, extra bases, times throw out, etc., and pile them up into a number that is either above (+) or below (-) league average.

The Rockies, not surprisingly, ranked second to last in baseball before Thursday at -5.0. Only the White Sox, 30th at -10.4, are worse.

Jorge De La Rosa pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during an MLB game on Tuesday, June 9, 2015. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

Jorge De La Rosa, on an 84-mph splitter, struck out Philadelphia’s Freddy Galvis in the fourth inning Thursday at Coors Field. And with it, he set the Rockies’ franchise record for career strikeouts, with 774.

De La Rosa, in his eighth season with Colorado, takes over the Rockies strikeout record in 885 2/3 innings pitched for the club. Jimenez, in five-plus seasons with the Rockies, recorded 773 strikeouts in 851 innings.

De La Rosa struck out the side in the second, including Cameron Rupp, who whiffed swinging at an 84-mph splitter. That gave De La Rosa four Ks in the first two innings as he tied Jimenez’s record.

Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau is still dealing with concussion-like symptoms. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau, on baseball’s special seven-day disabled list as he deals with concussion-like symptoms, is going to be out a while longer.

The reigning National League batting champion is eligible to come off the DL on Friday, but manager Walt Weiss said Thursday that Morneau’s return is on hold.

“It’s probably not just (seven-days),” manager Walt Weiss said before the Rockies hosted the Phillies at Coors Field. “I’m not going to say it’s going to be a whole lot longer than that, but he’s not going to be in the lineup in two days.”

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.